Just because something is right in our eyes doesn’t mean that it is, in fact, right.
Many people believe they are capable of making good decisions without God’s help, and believe that their behavior is appropriate.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes… (Proverbs 16:2 ESV)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes… (Proverbs 21:2 ESV)
However, in reality, what they believe or how they act is contrary to the will of God.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)
Believing we are right when in fact we are wrong is a behavior that applies to individuals as well as to nations (even to Supreme Courts). This was true of the nation of Israel.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 ESV)
Doing whatever seems right in our own eyes is doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
What happens when we do things our way rather than God’s way?
- We lack success.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, …. ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:21-24 ESV)
- We are conquered by our enemies.
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD …. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, …. And they provoked the LORD to anger. …. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. (Judges 2:11-15 ESV)
- We experience death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 16:25 ESV)
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. …. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. …. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NLT)
(You may want to reread the posts entitled “Living the Life God Planned for You to Live”)
Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.
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